Automatic switching apparatus



Mhrcb 10', 1925.

-C. D. RICHARD AUTOMATIC SWITCHING APPARATUS Patented Mar. 10, 1925.

U N I' T ED STAT ES' P AT E NT OF F lC CHARLES D. RICHARDOF NEW BRIGHTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB, T0 WESTERN ELEC- TRICCOMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK;

AUTOMATIC SWITCHING APPARATUS.

Application filed May 25, 1822.

T 0 all whom it may concern,-

Be it known that I, CHARLES D. Brennan, a citizen of France, residing at New Brighton, Staten Island, in the county of Richmond, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Switching. Apparatus, of whiclrthe followingis a full, clear, conelse, and exact description.

This invention relates to automatic switching apparatus and. more particularly to coordinate switches of the type for establishing connections in an automatic telephone exchange system.

The present invention provides improvements in switch structures of the type wherein operating cards are employed for moving setsof active contacts into engagement with sets of passive contacts, the operating cards bein supported on flexible springs and arrangedto be moved through the conjointoperati'on of actuating bars.

In switches of the above-mentioned character, the'cards are generally mounted on a semirigid support comprising flexible supporting springs. Thesesprings are ri idly mounted on the framework of the switch structure at one end, and loosely engage the cards at their other ends. Tn'order to move the cards,-it is necessary to flex the supporting springs, which is accountable for a tendency toward distortion of the cards. To overcome such distortion it has been customary to provide guides which limit the movement of the cards.

The principal object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a switch structure whereby the movement of the operating cards-may be accurately guided with a mini nun offriction.

Another object of this invention is to permit the replacement of latching membersassociated with the operating bars without disturbing the rest of the switch structure.

The principal feature of this invention consists in the combination of normally dis engaged contacts, operating cards for etfecting the engagement of the contacts, and conjoint coordinate operating bars for operating said cards, w-ith'a rigid member provided with a plurality of T-shaped projeo tions adapted to fit notches in the operating cards and serve as guides therefor, and fiat springs on which said cards are supported, whereby the cards are freely movable under Serial No. 563,589.

the control of'the coordinate bars. Other features including the ren'iovably mounted latching members will be apparent from the following detailed description and the attached drawings.

The invention is clearly disclosed'in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a frontelevation of a coordinate switch em-= b'odying the features of this invention. Fig; Q'is'a side view of'Fig. 1. Fig, 3 is asection of Fig. 1 showing the llltGlWOVGD passive contacts and the T-shaped projections. Fig. shows a. section ofa switching bar in which the means for removably mounting the latching members thereon is disclosed.

The sets of grid or passive conductorsl. 2, 3 and J: are securely fastened at their ends to fixed members (not shown) forming a portion of the supporting structure and are shown woven in and out between insaluting strips 6.

A support 7 of insulating material also suitably secured to the frame of the switch is provided'for each row of sets of flexible contact swings oractive conductors 8. 10 and 111 The supports? may be of any suitable length and may carry any numberot sets of contact springs depending upon the switch capacity desired The free ends of each set'of'contact springsS, 9. 10 and 11 extend through oblique apertures l in operatin'g'n'iemoers or cards 18. In normal position the card 13 holds the contact springs out'of engagement withthe passive conductors.

Coordinately disposed'bars 1t and 15 are adapted to be rotated through small arcs by the actuation of arniaturcs 1(3 and 17. respectively, upon the euergization of elec tromagnets 18 and 19, the armatures 16 and li'being securely mounted on the operating bars 1 and-15, respectively.

The cards 13 are each provided with a notch 20 at their lower ends. adapted to fit T-shaped projections 21 which serve as guides for the cards 13 during their operation, and prevent any lateral movement tl'iereofl The cards 13 are mounted on fiexible springs or members which in turn are securely'mounted on the insulating member 7. A latching member Set is removably mounted on the switching bar 15, its free end extending through the horizontal aperture 23 in card 13 and adapted to slide therein. Members 25 are rigidly mounted on bars 14' and are each provided with a lip or probers 2a in position by tending to close the opening in the bar 15 tight.

The operation of the switch is as follows: Upon the energization of electromagnet 19, armature 17 is attracted, causing the bar 15 to which the armature is securely attached to rotate through a slight arc. This movement of bar 15 places the latching member 2a in position to be engaged by the member 25. Electromagnet 18 is then energized and attracts its armature 16causing the lip or flange 26 on member 25 to engage the latching member 2 1 and force it upward. The free end of member 24k being in constant engagement with card 13 forces the card upward and causes the contacts 8, 9, 10 and 11 to come into engagement with contacts 1, 2, 3 and a, respectively. A wiping engagement is eifected by the sliding of ac tive contacts 8, 9, 10 and 11 in the oblique apertures 12.

The spring 22 is so constructed that it resists movement in any direction other than that in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the card 13 with which it is associated. The T-shaped projection 21 accommodates the notch 20 in card 13 and acts as a guide therefor. It is evident that from the combined effect of springs 22 and the T-shaped projections 21, the operating members 13 can experience a movement in but one direction, that is, in a direction parallel to its longitudinal axis.

After the engagement between the active and passive contacts, effected in the foregoing description, the magnets 18 and 19 are deenergized and their respective armatures are restored to normal under the action of restoring springs or any other suitable means (not shown).

What is claimed is:

1. In a switching mechanism, a set of contacts, a notched operating member therefor, means for moving said operating member in the direction of its length, and means cooperating with said notch to form a guide for said member.

2. In a switching mechanism, a set of passive contacts, a set of active contacts, an operating card therefor, oblique slots in said cards for said active contacts, means for moving said operating cards, and members individual to said operating cards for guiding said cards along their axes whereby a wiping engagement is secured between said active and passive contacts.

when screwed up 3. In a switching mechanism, a set of com tacts, an operating member therefor, means for moving said operating member, guiding means located at one end of said operating member, and flexible supporting means at the other end of said operating member.

4. In a switching mechanism, sets of active and passive contacts, operating members for said active contacts, means comprising conjointly operating bars for moving said operating members to effect engagement between said active and passive contacts, flexible supporting means for said operating members, and guiding means on which said members are mounted.

5. In a switching mechanism, contact selecting means comprising a split tube, and an operating member clamped therein.

6. In a switching mechanism, sets of active and passive contacts, operating members through which said active contacts pass, conjointly operating bars for said operating members, means removably mounted on one of said bars, and means efiective upon the actuation of another of said bars for causing engagement between said removably mounted means and one of said operating members to thereby cause the active and passive contacts to engage.

7. In a switching mechanism, a set of contacts, an operating member for said contacts provided with a notch, a rigid member having a T-shaped projection fitting the notch in said operating member and acting as a guide therefor, and means for moving said operating member in said guide.

8. In a switching mechanism, a set of contacts, an operating member for said contacts provided with a notch, a resilient member for supporting said operating member, said resilient member adapted to confine the movementof said operating member to a plane parallel to its axis, a rigid member having a T-shaped project-ion fitting the notch in said operating member and acting as a guide therefor, and means comprising conjointly operating bars whereby said operating member is moved in said guide.

9. In a switching mechanism, sets of active and passive contacts, operating memhere for said active contacts each provided with a notch, a rigid member having aplurality of T-shaped projections fitting the notches in said operating members and acting as guides therefor, and means for moving said operating members individually in said guides.

10. In a switching mechanism, a set of contacts, a notched operating member there for, means for moving said operating member in the direction of its length, and means cooperating with said notch to forma retainingguide for said member.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 23d day of May, A. D. 1922.

CHARLES D. RICHARD. 

